How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 60 - Targeting

"Ah-Xu, be careful walking in there." Waiting a few seconds, his expression growing more concerned when he gets no response, raising his voice further, "Ah-Xu, did you hear me? This place looks like it may fall over at any second." 

Zhou Xu's laughter travels out to the porch followed by his voice, laced with sarcasm and pretend, "If it topples over, I expect the hero to save the beauty from under all the rubble."

With a smile, part anxious and part warmth, Wen Ke Xing turns towards the owner, "I don't think we can repair this building. Another aftershock and it will crumble, or it may fall apart when we try to repair it."

Stunned, since this was the first time that the Guzhu had said that they wouldn't repair, he responds with a broken voice and tears glistening in the corner of his eyes, "Guzhu? Please, this is all I have."

Wen Ke Xing taps his fan repeatedly against his left palm, more because he is distracted, listening for any sound within the building, rather than irritated. He observes the pitiful ghost in front of him and continues, "What I mean is that we will help you take it down and rebuild."

"Guzhu! Thank you. Thank you, Guzhu!"

Ignoring the man in tears, Ah-Xiang feels the stress build up by the continuous tapping of the fan, asking with slight irritation in her voice, "Zhuren, why don't I go and check on him."

Inside, Zhou Xu expertly moves between the furniture, careful not to step too close to any of the cracks. Each movement is deliberate by assessing how the uneven floor responds to the weight moving across it. This doesn't seem that unstable. Oh, there is the-

Before Zhou Xu can finish his thought, he feels the shift in the air to his left, his body reacting before his mind. Twisting to the left on his tip of his toes, his head dodge the blow as his arm shoots out in a sharp and brutal move. Hitting its target on the left shoulder, the assailant is knocked several meters back. Landing with slightly bent knees the assailant has one arm stretched out towards the back and the other in front, palm facing Zhou Xu exposing a heart shaped tattoo.

Zhou Xu stares at the obsidian colored eyes that are staring back at him through large almond-shaped holes in the ghost mask. "You know−that mask really does nothing at this point except cover up your ugly face." With an arrogant smile spreading across his face, he watches the ghost tilt his head slightly, continuing, "I have been waiting for you all day. I was beginning to think that you were too much of a coward to try anything."

"..."

"You didn't really think that I missed your tattoos, did you? You guys really are dumb marking yourself in such a visible location."

"..." Ignoring Zhou Xu's comments, the ghost straightens his back and realigns his center of gravity.

Continuing to bait the ghost, Zhou Xu scoffs and continues, "You know that all the others before you have died trying to kill me? What makes you think you are any different?"

The ghost laughs, a little bit on the insane scale, his voice a bit detached, "You shouldn't underestimate any of us, and especially not her." Circling the room, avoiding the cracks, he moves towards Zhou Xu, "Let's see if you can survive this time."

Standing still, watching the ghost move towards him, his grin growing wider, "What are you waiting for? An invitation?"

They kick off, flying across the room towards each other. With arms crossing like swords, they trade blows at an increasing speed. Palms meeting palm or an underarm, never reaching its target. Each strike anticipated and parried, eyes never leaving the other's.

Having read his opponent after the first few moves, Zhou Xu waits for the attack that is inevitable. When it comes, the arm striking for his solar plexus, he is one step ahead, swerving to striking the other at the side of the head and at the same time kicking at the lower abdomen left open by his opponent. He watches the ghost stumble back and fall over, his grin growing wider as he looks down at the ghost, "That's all you've got? How disappointing."